600 gal display/900+ gal build thread in the Chicago 'burbs.

[EnglishRebel]

wmilas
I would bet you have an air leak somewhere. I noticed on one of the returns to my sump was putting out a lot of large bubbles but not the other (they are teed off the same return). I was checking all my joints on the suction side (I used a dropper with water to see if it was sucking it in but the Vaseline is an excellent idea). I couldn't find any and then it dawned on me that it must be in the return piping as it was only on one side. Now you would think that a gravity return would show a leak by dripping water, but no. I tightened the union on that return and the bubbles stopped. Apparently the water rushing down through the pipe created a suction that must have pulled the o-ring off its seat.
So moral of this is don't just check the suction side of the pump, check your return piping too.

 

[wmilas]

Added some GFO to the second canister last night. When I was in there I noticed a bad smell. Opened up the first canister (they plumbed in series) and OMFG. That carbon reeked. 4 Days and I think it exhausted itself pulling stuff out of the tank.

 

[cbusreefer]

why not just run your skimmer 24/7 right now anyways? Are the pods the main thing you're worried about? Sure, it'll suck out a lot of them, but they'll still populate. There's no way it's going to get ALL of them. Just my opinion, but i think the phyto, carbon, gfo are unnecessary right now.

 

[EnglishRebel]

wmilas
Did you get your bubbles under control (although I see that you have bigger fish to fry right now with the smell).

 

[wmilas]

Skimmer is on 24x7. Has been since Sunday. Stopped dosing phyto last week. Carbon and gfo reactors are running.

As far as the bubbles, I'm going to get everything else the way I want it then tackle that when I have more time.

 

[wmilas]

Smell is less today. Doing some more work on the tank room, tidying stuff up, ect. Hope to take some more pictures this weekend. Finally sized, cut and semi-organized all the Ro/DI tubes

 

[wmilas]

Something very peculiar happened. I tested Calcium and Alk a few weeks ago and both were withing acceptable ranges. I tested yesterday morning And Calc was still ok, although a bit low (415) but ALK was dangerously low... 6 DKH. I triple checked my readings, and have been re-taking readings as I slowly raise DKH. I just completed raising it to about 9.8DKH. I can't raise any more as I've hit my ph safe limit.. I'm hovering at 8.67. I'll raise a bit more tomorrow if ph lets me.

I'm wondering how this happened? There is nothing much in my tank but coralline that could have taken up the bicarbonate. Even if it did, it should have taken up equal parts of the calcium.

I also tested the mag, and it like the calcium was a little low, but nothing out of the ordinary. I raised the Calcium and I'm slowly raising the mag as mag is a pita to raise as it takes so much volume. I'm replacing evap with mag mixture to slowly raise it.

Another interesting is last night at some point the slime algae started melting away. When I went to bed last night I had raised the calcium not at all, the mag jsut about 20 ppm, but had raised the ALK quite a bit, probably about 2.5-2.8 DKH.

I still have slime on the rocks and on the back wall of my tank, but its completely gone off the sand. The skimmer cup is a total mess again Very weird.

 

[hidnReefAquatic]

damn big *** tank

 

[hidnReefAquatic]

damn big *** tank

 

[hidnReefAquatic]

damn big *** tank

 

[hidnReefAquatic]

damn big *** tank

 

[Dante_JoseCuerv]

quad post? Is this like the quad laser?

 

[EnglishRebel]

A triple post takes effort, a quad post takes REAL effort. :lolspin:

 

[Wheel of Time]

Interesting Alk problem. I literally am just going through a similar issue with my 300g reef. I had a small cyano/algae outbreak after some heavy feedings over previous weeks (just had a baby 3.5 wks ago and apparently my inlaws were helping me feed while I was at work...I was unaware and kept my feeding schedule of early morning prior to leaving and after I got home). In any event, last week my readings came at 450 for CA but Alk was at ~6.5dKH, and ph was lower than normal ~8.2 Really surprised me. I raised it using one part of the two part system using the reef calculator for fl oz. to add. Amazingly, had a very similar reading again today for ALK??? I immediately switched to a 'new' box of salifert test kit. wouldnt you know it-- HUGE discrepancy btw the two kits...the one was rather old, though. I guess it is past its prime and is giving unusually low readings...that has never happened to me before. I wonder how long the test kits are good for??? I also recalibrated my ph probe. It is higher than Id like at 8.72, but could have been worse considering.
love your thread and all fine work you have put into your build. nice work.
-- Seth

 

[wmilas]

PH slowly falling, down to 8.39. Everything else seems happy, skimmer is still pulling buckets of black filth. I was going to photograph a couple of gallons of black nog when I cleaned the skimmer yesterday but I couldn't take the smell. It went down the drain before I could get my camera.

I spent today cleaning up and I build the double float for the sump. I used that heat and bendy stuff for the support over the sumps lip. I tested a spare float with the breakout box and it all works. I water sealed with silicone the leads at the top of the float, and I'm waiting for it to dry. Tomorrow I should be able to install the rig and wire it to the breakout box. If it works correctly I'll build single float versions for the quarantine tanks.

I found a blue leg hermit in my fuge today. I have no idea how he got there considering I don't own any hermits He either hitch hiked in on some rock, or he came in inside an empty shell from the snail shipment. Was just kinda funny to see him cruising around inside the fuge with all the snails

 

[wmilas]

If I can get the floats working in the quarantine tanks I might pick up a few fish this weekend.

I think I'm going for:

1 Scopas Tang
3 Chromis

The idea is the tang for the lawnmower benefit, the Chromis to add some color and to make my kids happy

 

[Bax]

Got to keep the kids happy!

 

[wmilas]

Well, the ATO for the sump seems to be working. Its ugly as hell as most of my hand made creations are, but it works Its also completely programmable

I'm making the 2 quarantine tank top offs now. Ill try and clean the mess that is my wiring up tomorrow and take a few picts.

 

[erics3000]

pics.. cool..Can't wait..

I know you have a bunch on your plate but wondering if you thought about putting some flx pvc from your return pump to your spray bar. I really think eliminating that run to the roof will help the micro bubbles..

 

[wmilas]

Well, I'm going to finish the float work and the cable management then the next step will be to work on on a bubble tower that is more compact. After That I'm going to turn my attention to that whole run you are talking about. I'll probably try the petroleum jelly trick first. Working with that flex PVC stuff is a royal PITA. It stays curled and puts a ton of torque on stuff no matter what you do.